The Brookhaven leader., 1887-07-28

We can not, until all the hocks he gathered
together, and till they roll the stone from thu
wells mouth; then we water the sheep
Genesis, xxx, s.
scene in Mesopotamia, beautifully
pastoral A well Of water of great value
in that region. The fields around about II
white with three flocks Of sheep lvinC
down waiting for the watering. lheaI
their bleating coming on the bright ali
and the laughter of young men anc
maidens INDUCING in rustic repartee.
look of and see other fiocks Of sheer
coming Meanwhile, Jacob, stranger
on the interesting errand looking for G
wife, comes to the well. A beautiful
shepherdess comes to the same we'll
see her approaching, followed by her
fathers flock Of sheep. 1t was memor'
able meeting. Jacob married that shep
erdess. The b BILE account of il is:
Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voic,
Ano wept
1t has always been a mystery to me
what he found TO cry aboutl But before
that scene occurred, Jacob accosts the
shepherds and asks them why they post
pone the shaking of the thirst of these
sheep, and why they did not Immediately
proceed TO water them. The shepherd
reply to the effect:
1--WE are all good neigh bors, and as q
matter of courtesy we wait until all the
sheep of the neighborhood come up. Be-
sides that, this stone on the wells mouth
is somewhat heavy, and several of US
take hold of it and push it aside and then
the buckets and the troughs are filed,
and the sheep are satisfied. We can not,
until all the frocks are gathered together,
and till we roll the stone from the wells
mouth; then we water the sheep"
Oh, this is thirsty world! Hot for the
head, and blistering for the feet, aud
parching for the tongue. The worlds
great want is cool, refreshing, satisfy
ing drHught. We wander around and we
find the eistern empty. Long aud
ted Ious drought has dried up the worlds
fountains, but nearly nineteen CEN
turtles ago, a Shepherd, with a crook in
the shape of a cross, and feet cut to the
bleed ing, explored the desert passages of
this world, and one day came across
well a thousand feet deep, bubbling and
bright, and opales cent, and looked to the
north, and the south, and the east. and the
west, and cried out with voice strong
and musical that rang through the ages.
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come We to the
water,
around this gospel we'll. There are
great many thirsty souls. / wonder why
the f1ocks of all nations do not gather
why so many stay thirsty, and while 1
am wondering about it, my text breaks
forth in the explanation, saying:
We can not, until all the focks be gathered
together and till they roll the stone from tn
wells mouth then we water the sheep.
If herd of swine come to we'll they
angrlly jostle each other for the prece-
deuce; if drove of cattle come to a
well, they hook eaCl other back from the
water, but when a flock of sheep come,
though hundred OF them shall be disap-
pointed, they only express it by sad
bleatings; they come together peace
fully. We want a great multitude to
come around the gospel we'll. /
know there are those who do not like a
a crowd-they think a crowd is vulgar.
If they are oppressed for room in church
it makes them positively impatient and
belligereat, We have had people perma-
nently leave our church because so many
other people come to it. Not 81 did these
oriental shepherds. They waited until
all the tloclls were gathered, ard the more
focks that came the better they liked it
And so we ought 10 be anxious that all
the people should come. Go on into the
highways and hedges and compel them to
come in. Go to the rich and tell them that
they are INDECENT without the Cos pei of
Jesus. 60 to the poor and tell them the
affluence there is in Christ. Go to the
blind and tell them Of the touch that gives
eternal illumination. Go TO the lame and
tell them of the JOY that will make the
lame man leap ike hart. Gather all the
sheep Of of all the mountains None so
so torn Of the dogs, none so sick, none so
worried, none so dying as to be omitted.
Why not gather q great t1ockl All Brook
lyn in q flock; all New York in a flock; all
the world in flock.
This we'll of the Gospel is deep enough
to put out the burning thirst Of the 1,20O,-
co., 900 of the race. Do not let the church,
by spirit of exclusiveness, keep the
world out. Let down all the bars, swing
open all the gates, scatter ali the invita-
tons:
Wbosoever Will, let him come.
Come, white and black Come, red man
Of the forest. Come, Laplander, out of
the snow. Come, Patagonian, out of the
heat. Come in furs. Come painting un-
der palm leaves. Come one. Come all.
Come now. AS at this we'll Of Mesopo-
tamia, Jacob and Rachel were betrothed,
so this morning, at this well of salvation,
Christ our Shepherd will meet yon COM
ing up with your long f )cks of cares and
anxieties, aud he will stretch out his hand
in pledge of his affection, while all
Heaven will cry out:
Behold the bridegroom coneth; go We out to
meet him.
You notice that this well Of Mes opo-
tamia had stone on 1t, which
must be removed before the sheep
could be watered; and find on the wei
Of salvation to-day imped nents and OBJ
stacles which must be removed in or
der that you may obtain the refres hment
and life of this gospel. In your case the
Impediment is pride of heart You can
not bear 10 come to such a democratic
fountain; you do not want to come
with so many others. 1t is to you like
when you are dry coming to town pump,
as compared TO sitting in parlor slipping
out of a chased chalice which has just
been lifted from a silver salver. Not so
many pubicans and sinners. You want
to get to Heaven, but it must be in spe-
cial car with your feet on Turks b otto
man and a band Of music on board the
train. You do net want to be in company
with rustic Jacob and Rachel, and to be
drinking out of the fountain where ten
thousand sheep have been drinking before
yoI. You will have to remove the 90
stacle of pride or never find your way to
the we'll You will have to come as we
came, willing to take the water Of eter-
nal life in any way, and at any hand, and
in any kind OF pitcher, crying out:
''Oh, Lori Jesus, am dying of thirst.
give me the water of eternal life, whether
in trough or goblet; give me the water Of
life; care not in what ii comes 10 me-"